For most people hearing loss is gradual and we don’t notice the deterioration immediately.
Age heredity, drugs, trauma, certain illnesses, and noise can all cause or contribute to hearing loss.
Mishearing, asking for repeats, believing people are mumbling, difficulty hearing on the phone, needing to have the TV and radio turned up loudly, and pretending to have understood are symptoms of potential hearing loss.
Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your hearing.
Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss
This type of hearing loss affects the outer or middle ear and prevents sounds being transmitted efficiently through to the inner ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Is a breakdown in the hair cells in the inner ear results in them being unable to convert sound waves into the nerve impulses that are recognised by the brain as sound. The nerve pathways can also get damaged.
For further information visit Hearing NZ